Container for cigarette package and match book



Jan. 2, 1951 E. s. CALDWELL CONTAINER FOR CIGARETTE PACKAGE AND MATCHBOOK Filed Jan. 17, 1950 www WMM

' IN VEN TOR.

Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE `ooiwrAINER FonCIGARETTE PACKAGE AND MATCH BooK Edward s.lo.1awe11, chicago, n1.Application January 17, 195o, serial No. 139,066

My invention relates to containers which are adapted to hold a packageof cigarettes,such as the conventional or standard packages, and whichalso serve to hold the usual paper packets of matches or books ofmatches as they are frequently called. y

While containers for holding packages 'oi cigarettes, with or withoutpackages of matches, have heretofore been devised, all of them, so faras I am aware, have been characterized by one or more disadvantages as,for example, undesirability of appearance, relatively high cost ofmanufacturaand the like. In accordance `with my invention, a containerfor cigarettes, -particularly cigarettes and matches, has been evolvedwhich provides not only a highly attractive appearance but, in addition,is of such simplicity in design that it may be manufactured in largevolume and at very low cost. This enables it not only to be sold to theuser for a minimum price but, also, it makes readily feasible thedistribution thereof as advertising media gratis to the user. Thecontainer may be embellished in any desired manner and may have printedthereon the name of the proprietor .'of any estab. lishment as, forexample, a restaurant. Being low in cost, as pointed out above, saidcontainers may be distributed gratis `by such restaurant to itscustomers or prospective customers. Whenever a cigarette is removed fromits package within the container, the user will have his attentiondirected to the name of the restaurant. This is illustrative ofonemanner of distribution of the container forming the basis for mypresent invention and it will be apparent that many other ways willsuggest themselves to those@ versed in the art in the light of the lowcosts'A involved in the manufacture of such containers..

In my prior co-pendingl application, Serial No.; 39,248, led July 17,1948, I have disclosed combination cigarette-match book containerswhich? possess certain marked advantages over prerviously knowncontainers usedfor such purposes.

My present invention is distinguished from that disclosed in myaforesaid prior patent application and represents important advantagesthere-f over. These advantages include the-fact that my presentcontainers present a distinctly .better appearance and ,retain theirshape andfullness during shipment and handling, when empty.,

much moresatisfactorily than do the containers'V made pursuant to myaforesaid prior invention. It is easier to print desired indicia on saidcon` tainers and a wider, unbroken area for such printing is provided.Moreover, intwo-colorer V rIhe invention will be readily understood in,V

the light of the accompanying drawing and the following description inconjunction therewith wherein a preferred embodiment of my invention isset out in detail.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container made in accordance with myinvention showing the manner of supporting a match book therein, saidcontainer being shown in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view which is similar to Fig. 1 except that theclosure flap is shown in open position, the package of cigarettes withinsaid container being exposed to view.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along line 299-3 of Fig. l, lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken along line 4 4 of Fig. 1, lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View showing the container in incompletelyassembled form but generally showing the manner in which the two blanksforming said container are assembled.

Figs. 6 and '7 are the two blanks from which the container is assembled.

AS shown in theVV drawings, the container is` made from two blanks A andB, shown, respectively, in Figs. 6 and 7, made from a flexiblethermoplastic material such as a vinyl resin, a cellulose acetate resinor any other ilexible thermoplastic sheet material. The blank Acomprises an intermediate rectangular portion i0. Extending from one endof said portion l is a flap member ii which, when in fully assembledcondition,l provides the bottom, of the container vand also provides thebottom of the pocket for housing the match book. The free'- end i2 ofsaid flap member Il is preferably arcuate-shaped and is provided with anaperture I3 through which is passed the male portion ,H3 of' a standardsnap closure.

Extending from the other end of said portion i6 Vis a cover-forming flapl5 which provides the top of the cigarette package and also the closureiiap. The free end i6 of said flap member it? 3 than the member l5. Forthe standard size package containing twenty cigarettes, I nd it quitesatisfactory for the member H to be about 3% inches in length, themember lil to be about 2"/8 inches in length, and the member l5 to beabout 1% inches in length. As to width, it will be noted that the memberIii is slightly wider than the member Ii. If desired, the member l5 maybe of the same width as the member l l and, less advantageously, theentire blank A may be of uniform width. Where the members Il and i5 aremade of the same width and narrower than the width of member i9, saidmembersrlv l and i5 are conveniently about 21/4 inches Wide and themember i9 somewhat wider, for ei'iample, about 21% inches in width. 4Theextra width in the member iii serves to provide side extensions iS and2l for the 'purpose described hereafter.

The blank B, which comprises the cigarette package-forming pocketmember, is made up of a generally rectangular sheet but one Yside 22 ispreferably double-arcuate in shape having a c entrally disposeddepressed portion 23 and below which is disposed an aperture 24 throughwhich the male portion i4 of the snap closure passes. The side oppositethe side 22 is advantageously scalloped as shown. The length of saidblank B corresponds generally to the height of the cigarette package andthe width of said blank B is suiciently greater than the width of memberl so that, in assembled form, a pocket is provided of a size snugly tohouse the cigarette package. The width of blank B is conveniently abouti1-36 inches.

The assembly of the blanks A and B is simple and rapid. The blank B isfitted over the blank A and held in position with the opposite edges ofsaid blank B disposed along and in contact with the side extensions I9and 2l, respectively, of the blank A. rhe edges to be sealed are thendisposed between the electrodes of an electronic sealing unit and thepassage of current through said electrodes serves to melt the innersurfaces of the thermoplastic material and to effect sealing or weldingto form seams l25 and 21 which are exceedingly strong and resistant totear. The outer surfaces, which face the electrodes, are not marred inthe sealing process. The flap member l l is then folded upwardly underor beneath and generally in Contact with the inner surface of blank Buntil the apertures I3 and 24 are alined and the male portion it of thesnap fastener is passed through said apertures. The female portion I8 ofsaid snap faste-ner is then mounted through said aperture il. It will beunderstood, of course, that the female portion i8 of said snap fastenermay first be attached to the flap l and the ap Il folded under andassembled as described above.

It will be seen, therefore, that, after the container is assembled, acigarette package 28 may be placed in the pocket formed by members I0and l! and blank B and a packet of matches 29 may be inserted throughthe bottom opening into the space formed between the inner Surface ofblank B and the outer surface of member H. When the cover flap i5 isclosed, a neat, compact package results. It may be pointed out that thecurvature of the side V22 is such that it abutS firmly against the coverflap i5 when the latter is in closed position so as to form a relativelytight closure to prevent leakage of loose tobacco.

Containers made in accordance with my invention also lhave the advantageof protecting the contents thereof from perspiration. They possess avery slight adhesion to cloth and, therefore, they do not have thetendency to fall out of the pocket of a workmans shirt or the likedespite frequent bending or stooping. They are light in weight and,being flexible, they have a long life and may be carried withoutdiscomfort in ones pocket. Other advantages will readily appear to thoseversed in the art in the light of my disclosure herein.

While I have described my invention in detail, Vit will be understoodthat no unnecessary limitations are to be read thereinto, the scope ofthe invention 'being pointed out in the ap-pended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A container which is adapted to hold a package fof cigarettes and abook of matches, said container being formed from two blank members madeof flexible thermoplastic sheet material, the rst of said blank memberscomprising a generally rectangular portion, a flap extending from oneend of said rectangular portion and a cigarette package cover-forming apextending from the other end of said rectangular portion, the second ofsaid blank members having a width substantially exceeding the width ofthe rectangular portion of said rst blank member, said second blankmember being heat-sealed at its opposed longitudinal edges to the edgesof said rectangular Aportion of the first blank member to provide acigarette package receiving pocket, said first- -mentioned flap beingfolded under and in contact with the linner surface of said second blankmember to form the bottom of said pocket and being connected near itsfree end to Said second blank by one part of a snap fastener, amatchpocket being formed between the inner surface of said second blankmember and the outer surface of said nist-mentioned ap and being open atvits bottom for the reception of a match book, and the other part ofsaid snap `fastener being attached to the cigarette packagecover-forming nap.

2. A container which is adapted to hold a package of cigarettes and abook of matches, said container being formed from two blank members madeof flexible thermoplastic sheet material, the first of said blankmembers comprising a generally rectangular portion1 a iiap extendingfrom one end of said rectangular portion and s, cigarette package`coverv-.forming flap extending from the other end of said rectangularportion, sai-d 5 flaps being of substantially equal width and said`'rectangular portion being slightly wider than said flaps so `as toprovide side extensions on said rectangular portion, said rectangularportion being greater in length than said ycigarette cover-forming Snapand lesser i'n length than said first-mentioned 'ap., the second of saidblank members being generally rectangular with the exception of at least4one side which is rdoable-arcaate in shape and has 'a centrallydepressed portion, said second blank memberhaving a width substantiallyexceeding the width of the .rectangular portion of said rst blankmember, said second blank member having a length approximately equal toythe length of said side extensions 'and being heatsealed at its opposedlongitudinal vedges to said 'side extensions t0 provide a cigarettepackage receiving pocket, said first-mentioned flap being folded underand in contact with the inner surface of said second lblank member to:form the bottom vof saidpocket and being connected 'near its free endto said second blank by one part of a snap fastener, a match pocketbeing formed between the inner surface of said second blank member andthe outer surface of said first-mentioned flap and being'open at itsbottom for the reception of a match book, and the other part of saidsnap fastener'being attached to thecigarette package'cover-formin'g ap.

3. A container which is adapted to hold a. package of cigarettes and abook of matches, said container being formed from two blank members madeof flexible thermoplastic sheet material, the rst of ysaid blank memberscomprising a generally rectangular portion, a flap extending from oneend of said/rectangular portion and a cigarette package cover-formingflap extending from the other end of Said rectangular portion, said apsbeing of substantially equal width and said rectangular portion beingslightly wider than said fiaps so as to provide side extensions on saidrectangular portion, said rectangular portion being greater in lengththan cigarette cover-forming flap and lesser in length than saidfirstmentioned nap, the second of said blank members having a widthsubstantially exceeding the width of the rectangular portion of saidfirst blank member, said second blank member having a lengthapproximately equal to the length of said side extensions and beingheat-sealed at its opposed longitudinal edges to said side extensions toprovide a cigarette package receiving pocket, said first-mentioned flapbeing folded under and in contact with the inner surface of said secondblank member to form the bottom of said Docket and being connected nearits free end to said second blank by one part of a two-part fastener, amatch pocket being formed between the inner surface of said second blankmember and the outer surface of said first-mentioned flap and being openat its bottom for the reception of a match book, and the other andcooperating part of said fastener being attached to the cigarettepackage cover-forming flap.

4. A container which is adapted to hold a package of cigarettes, saidcontainer being formed from two blank members made of fiexiblethermoplastic sheet material, the first of said blank members comprisinga generally rectangularv portion, a first flap extending from one end ofsaid rectangular portion and a second flap extending from the other endof said rectangular portion, the second of said blank members having awidth substantially exceeding the width of the rectangular portion ofsaid first blank member, said second blank member being heat-sealed atits opposed longitudinal edges to the edges of said rectangular portionof said first blank member to provide a cigarette package receivingpocket, said first flap being folded under and in contact with the innersurface of said second blank member to form the bottom of said pocketand being connected near its free end to said second blank by one partof a snap fastener; a match pocket being formed between the innersurface of said second blank member and the outer surface of said firstfiap and being open at its bottom for the reception of a match book, andthe other part of said snap fastener being attached to said second flap.

5. A container which is adapted to hold a package of cigarettes, saidcontainer being formed from two blank members made of flexiblethermoplastic sheet material, the first of said blank members comprisinga generally rectangular portion, a first ap extending from one end ofsaid rectangular portion and a second nap extending from the other endof said rectangular portion, said flaps being of generally similar.Width, the second of said blank members having a width substantiallyexceeding the width of the rectangular portion of said first blankmember, said second vblank member being heat-sealed at its opposedlongitudinal edges to the side edges of said rectangular portion of saidrst blank member to provide a cigarette package receiving pocket, saidfirst iiap being folded under and in contact with the inner surface ofsaid second blank member to form the bottom of said pocket and beingconnected near its free end to said second blank by one part of a snapfastener, a match pocket beingA formed between the inner surface of saidsecond blank member and the outer surface of said first fiap and beingopen at its bottom for the reception of a match book, and the other partof said snap fastener being attached to said second flap.

6. A container which is adapted to hold a package of cigarettes and abook of matches, said container being formed from two blank members madeof flexible thermoplastic sheet material, the first of said blankmembers comprising a foursided portion, a first iiap extending from oneend of said four-sided portion and a second flap extending from theother end of said four-sided portion, the second of said blank membershaving a width substantially exceeding the width of the widest partofsaid four-sided portion of said first blank member, said second blankmember being heat-sealed at its opposed longitudinal edges to saidfour-sided portion to provide a cigarette package receiving pocket, saidfirst flap being folded under and in contact with the inner surface ofsaid second blank member to form the bottom of said pocket and beingconnected near its free end to said second blank by one part of atwo-part snap fastener, a match pocket being formed between the innersurface of said second blank member and the outer surface of said firstflap and being open at its bottom for the reception of a match book, andthe other and cooperating part of said snap fastener being attached tosaid second flap.

7. A container which is adapted to hold a package of cigarettes and abook of matches, said container being formed from two blank members madeof flexible thermoplastic sheet material, the rst of said blank memberscomprising a four-sided portion, a flap extending from one end of saidfour-sided portion and a cigarette package cover-forming flap extendingfrom the other end of said four-sided portion. said foursided portion atits widest dimension having a width not less than the width of either ofsaid flaps so as to provide extensions at two opposing sides on saidfour-sided portion, the second of said blank members having a widthsubstantially exceeding the greatest width of the four-sided portion ofsaid first blank member, said second blank member being heat-sealed atits opposed longitudinal edges to said side extensions to provide acigarette package receiving pocket, said first-mentioned fiap beingfolded under and in contact with the inner surface of said second blankmember to form the bottom of said pocket and being connected near itsfree end to said second blank by one part of a snap fastener, a matchpocket being formed between the inner surface of said second blankmember and the outer surface of said first-mentioned flap and being openat its bottom for the reception of a 7 8 match book, and the other partof #said snap' UNITED STATES PATENTS fastener being attached to thecigarette: package Number Name Date cover-forming ap- 1 481 161 Tas1erJan, 15 1924 EDWARD S- CALDWELL 5 2,059,332 Marten et a1. Novys, 19362,335,685 Mayer Nov. 30, 1943 REFERENCES CITED 2,442,091 Mann et a1 May25, 1948 The following references are of record in the 2,459,218 CoreyJan. 18, 1949 le of this patent:

